Cinemaazi remembers Badri Prasad on his birth anniversary

Today, on the death anniversary of Pandit Badri Prasad, we remember the multi-faceted film personality—actor, lyricist, singer, music director, producer, and director, who had passed away this day in 1988. Born on November 14, 1902 in Benaras, UP, he moved from acting in Ramlila performances to New Theatres in Calcutta, and eventually the studios of Bombay. He made his acting debut in Navchetan (1932), going on to assist composers, before he composed music independently with Baburao Patel’s Gandharva Cinetone-produced Baala Joban (1934), in which Prasad also acted. He acted in no less than 147 films, including Albela(1951), Bhagam Bhag (1954) and Hum Sab Chor Hain(1956). While he sang 11 songs in seven films including Ahinsa(1979), he also choreographed for no less than 22 films, fromNamoona (1949) right up to Shoor Veer (1988). His work as music director is seen in multiple films including Vishnu Bhakti (1934), Fashionable India (1935),Romantic India(1936), Zambo The Ape Man (1937), Swaraj Ke Sipahi (1937), Badhe Chalo (1937), Yangrilla (1938), Himalay Ki Beti (1938),Double Cross (1938), Zambo Ka Beta (1939), Jhuti Sharm (1940), Vanmala (1941), Madhusudan (1941) and Zevar (1942), which was his last film as a composer. An erudite man with a deep love for books, Pandit Badri Prasad was proficient in Hindi, Urdu, English and Sanskrit. In fact, his title Pandit was a result of his mastery over Sanskrit. He also wrote several plays for All India Radio. Not one to tom-tom his successes or court the limelight, his achievements thus remain largely unrecognised.